Help to Identify an Artillery Shell Projectile

W

WeakKnee

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Good day, I am helping my hunting partner’s widow sell off his estate and found that he had a deactivated artillery shell projectile in with his gun collection. I am hoping that some of the Milsurp experts on CGN can help me identify it and maybe put a value to it?

I have never been able to post pictures to CGN, so if someone would like to help me out please send me a PM with your email address and I will send you some pictures.

I think I can describe the projectile pretty well.

It is:
- in total 12” long and 3.3” in diameter and weighs 8.1 lbs.
- it has a 6 layer brass fuse on top that has graduations marks on the 4th layer, but no symbols or numbers, the fuse section is 2.5” of the shell length. The nose of the fuse is open with a 3/8” dia. hole, looks like the very tip of the fuse is not present.
- the body of the shell is steel, 8.5” long with a 5/8” width smooth copper band around the bottom.
- there is a 1” long steel bottom section that has 3 small 3/16” dia threaded holes spaced around the edge, and a single larger 3/8” threaded hole in the middle.
- the entire shell is hollow, you can see through the hole in the steel bottom to out the hole in the fuze at the top.
- the only markings are the number 1, and a small square stamped on the steel bottom.

I did a little internet searching, could this be an exploding flare or parachute flare shell? Or maybe it is an actual shell with the explosives and fuze tip removed? What would it be fired out of and for what purpose? Any idea how old it is?

Any expert help would be most appreciated!

Thank you,

WK
 
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If you could send me pics I might be able to help you.

When posting, press the "insert image" button at the top of the box. Then click the "from computer" tab. Click "browse" and select a file.
- in total 12” long and 3.3” in diameter and weighs 8.1 lbs.
- it has a 6 layer brass fuse on top that has graduations marks on the 4th layer, but no symbols or numbers, the fuse section is 2.5” of the shell length. The nose of the fuse is open with a 3/8” dia. hole, looks like the very tip of the fuse is not present.
- the body of the shell is steel, 8.5” long with a 5/8” width smooth copper band around the bottom.
- there is a 1” long steel bottom section that has 3 small 3/16” dia threaded holes spaced around the edge, and a single larger 3/8” threaded hole in the middle.
- the entire shell is hollow, you can see through the hole in the steel bottom to out the hole in the fuze at the top.
- the only markings are the number 1, and a small square stamped on the steel bottom.

I did a little internet searching, could this be an exploding flare or parachute flare shell? Or maybe it is an actual shell with the explosives and fuze tip removed? What would it be fired out of and for what purpose? Any idea how old it is?
Click to expand...
I have never heard of a fuze that has graduation marks but no numbers. It is clearly very old, as the CAF hasn't used anything like that in a long while. The smooth copper band along the bottom is probably the "rotating band", which causes obturation to the front of the projectile. The small square might by a "weight zone" marking, though a single square seems rather light (current 105 mm rounds tend to be 2.5 weight zones), and any I've seen tend to be painted on the side, not stamped to the base. Knowing the colour of the projectile would also be useful.

EDIT: a quick search on 3.3 inch (84 mm) rounds suggests that this was shot by a 20 pounder tank gun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_20-pounder. It appears that this is not an artillery projectile after all.
 
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Does sound like a carrier shell, likely smoke. Tanks did use them to mark targets and possibly screening. The square may be a weight marking. Standard for 105 arty HE is (as best I recall) 2.5. When calculating data the difference in square could be incorporated for max accuracy. Modern ammo has it painted on, in the old days or tanks, might be stamped. Odd that it would be near base where casing might obscure it.

Lack of numbers on the fuze may be because whatever type of gun that fired it used a mechanical fuze setter. Faster and more consistent than setting manually. I would still expect scale markings though in case you had to go manual.

Tank guns are specialized and limited usage arty.
 
Thank you for your input and PM inquiries. I have emailed out some pictures and had terrific responses.

I was asked to do more precise measurements of the diameter of the projectile. The bottom and body are 83.185mm and the smooth copper band is 85.852mm.

Good chance it is an 18lb British round, but the fuze is odd as there are no numbers on it or holes in the sides? Maybe a Drill purpose round is correct?

Thank you,

WK
 
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